Happy Ostara!

Tomorrow is Ostara – Have you ever wondered why we celebrate with bunnies, chicks and eggs at Easter? Rabbits, young chicks and eggs are Ostara’s fertility images – symbols of birth and new beginnings.

At Ostara (also referred to as Eostara, eostre or the spring equinox) we celebrate Persephone’s return. According to ancient Greek myth, Persephone, a young maiden, was abducted by Hades; God of the Underworld. Her mother, Demeter, was so grief stricken over the loss of her daughter that she created winter an death to cover the earth.

Persephone was eventually returned to her mother, but had to spend six months of the year in the underworld and six months with her mother. Hence, spring brings such joy to Demeter, that the earth blooms and blossoms once more.

This is such a beautiful time of year to celebrate. The sap is rising, signs of spring are everywhere from rapidly growing grass, daisies opening up during the daytime, blossom on the trees and the hurried call of the birds gathering nesting material.

A perfect way to celebrate is with planting seeds. Young children love to get their hands in the soil; Sunflowers and radishes are favourites. But even if you don’t have a garden you can do some indoor planting. Why not grow some herbs on your kitchen windowsill and for tiny children sprout some cress on a flannel or plant some catnip for a carpet of indoor grass!

Get out into nature today and give gratitude to our Mother for all that she offers us: food to eat, water to [amazon-product align=”right” small=”1″]0892815507[/amazon-product]drink, beautiful trees and landscapes to enjoy, flowers to lift our spirit and the change of seasons that brings opportunities for growth, reflection and celebration.

Traditional Ostara food relies on spring greens. How about making fresh nettle soup, a salad from early dandelion greens and wild garlic or an egg dish to symbolise fertility. I appreciate some areas of the world will be under deep snow, so it is not practical for all. But you can still enjoy a stir fry or satisfying and warming soup made from cabbage, spinach or kale.

Spiritually, it’s time to cut away the old and let in the new. What destructive habits are you holding on to? What do you need to release from your life so that something even better can come towards you? What ‘new years resolution’ could you begin?

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